Colombia began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan. In the second round of Group K, they will face DR Congo, who earned a valuable point after an impressive 1-1 draw against tournament contender Portugal.
A victory in this match would virtually guarantee Colombia a place in the Round of 16.
The card count in Colombia’s win over Uzbekistan finished 1-1, but a much more significant trend stands out: regardless of the result, Colombia have forced their opponents to receive cards in 20 consecutive matches.
Furthermore, 14 of those 20 matches have produced Over Cards, highlighting Colombia’s involvement in physically demanding contests.
On the DR Congo side, their opening draw against Portugal saw four yellow cards shown, although only one was issued to the African nation. Statistics also show that in each of DR Congo’s last five matches, their opponents have received cards at an average rate of two bookings per game.
With both teams demonstrating a strong tendency to draw fouls and force disciplinary action from opponents, this matchup between two effective “card magnets” is expected to generate plenty of bookings.
Pick: DR Congo + Card Handicap & Over Total Cards
First-Half Card Betting Analysis
Recent trends suggest an active first half in the disciplinary markets.
- Four of DR Congo’s last five matches have featured cards before halftime.
- Five of Colombia’s last six matches have also seen first-half bookings.
The referee appointed for this match is Maurizio Mariani of Italy, a well-known official with a relatively strict disciplinary record.
Across his last 200 matches, Mariani has averaged:
- 4.25 yellow cards per game
- 0.25 red cards per game
Even more notably, 17 of his last 20 matches have produced at least one first-half card.
Given these statistics, an early booking appears highly likely.
Pick: DR Congo + First-Half Card Handicap & Over First-Half Cards
Team News
Colombia
- Colombia are expected to have a full-strength squad available.
- Head coach Néstor Lorenzo may switch from a 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1 setup for this match.
DR Congo
- No major injury concerns reported.
- Experienced centre-back Chancel Mbemba is one yellow card away from suspension and will need to avoid a booking.
Predicted Lineups
Colombia
Vargas; Muñoz, Sánchez, Lucumí, Mojica; Ríos, Lerma; Arias, Rodríguez, Díaz; Suárez.
DR Congo
Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kayembe; Mukau, Moutoussamy, Sadiki; Bongonda, Bakambu, Wissa.
Form and Head-to-Head Statistics
- Colombia are in strong form and can secure early qualification with a victory.
- DR Congo gained confidence after holding Portugal to a draw and are unlikely to be intimidated.
- Both teams consistently force opponents into tactical fouls and physical battles.
- Historical disciplinary trends point toward a card-heavy contest, especially with an experienced referee known for issuing bookings regularly.
Recommended Card Bets
- Full Match Card Handicap: DR Congo
- Full Match Total Cards: Over
- First-Half Card Handicap: DR Congo
- First-Half Total Cards: Over
- Expected Match Profile: Competitive, physical, and likely to feature multiple yellow cards from both sides.